MAKOGAI ISLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 196, 19 August 1940, Page 8

MAKOGAI ISLAND.

CHRISTMAS COMFORTS

DONATIONS WELCOMED.

For the last 18 years a small committee in Auckland has made an annual appeal for donations to provide Christmas comforts for the lepers on Makogai Island. A reminder that Christmas is not so far off was given to the secretary of the committee, Mr. D. L. Thomas, to-day, when he received a letter enclosing a cheque and expressing the wish that nothing should be allowed to interfere with the scheme to send gifts to the 600 unfortunate residents of the island. Mr. Thomas has also received a letter from the medical superintendent of the leper station, Dr. C. J. Austin, an officer of the Fijian Government, thanking the committee for its efforts in the past and voicing the wish that the islanders should not be forgotten in these strenuous days of war.

Mr. Thomas said to-day that the medical officer of health at Auckland, Dr. T. H. Hughes, was the chairman of the unofficial committee that had been responsible over the years for sending gifts to the leper station and the response for 18 years had been most generous. He had thought it might be considered that an appeal would be inappropriate this year owing to the numerous collections being made for patriotic purposes, but many of his friends, including people who had contributed in the past, had urged him as organising secretary of the movement not to weaken in his efforts. They were all of opinion''that despite other appeals the lepers should not be forgotten. In those circumstances the committee would continue its work this year and donations would be welcomed until the end of November, when the money raised would be expended on cigarettes, tobacco, pipes, cakes, sweets and summer clothing for those who had to spend their lives on Makogai. By closing the donation list at the end of November time was given for the comforts to be purchased and packed in readiness for transport by a ship of the Union Steam Ship Company. There was no freight charge involved, the company having taken the packages free to the island ever since the movement started.